Golf club carrier



July 16, 1957 J. L. STRASBURG 2,799,315

' GOLF CLUB CARRIER Filed Aug. 25, 1954 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. wsssy: ,L. sr Asgugs vAGENT tes GOLF CLUB CARRIER Jesse L. Strashurg, South Williamspert, Pa. Application August 25, 1954, Serial No. 452,152

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 150-1.5)-

in lack of ready use of the clubs and, whenspring clamps are used, in the unnecessary and excessive scratching and marring thereof; an unsightliness-of the carrier which is extremely objectionable to fastidious golfers the use of wheel or leg attachments which are-difficultto move 2,799,315 Patented July 16, 1957 or rest it upon supporting legs which are arranged so as not to interfere with walking. I I

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

v pad.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the golf club carrier comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof looking fromthe line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof; Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereor taken on the line. 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary f horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional .view taken 6- -'6 of Figure 5; c

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken onthe line 7 7 of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line through the shoulder Referring to the drawings, numeral indicates the invention as a whole which comprises a head plate 12 and a similar but oppositely disposed tail plate 14, both being connected by a tube or bar 15 of a strong but light-weight material such as aluminum, plastic, etc. which [terminates at each end in a rigidly fixed plate 16 which are fixed to the headand tail plates. The latter are preferably magnesium castings although any light-weight L .buts-trong metal or plastic may be employed'.[

to operative position and/or interfere with the walking of the person carrying the club carrier; and a'complexity of design resulting in either an excessive cost of the carrier or asho'rt life thereof.

Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf club carrier-of the port able type which will obviate the above and other disadvantageous features characteriiing known structures.

Another important object of the presentinvention isto provide a light weight golf club carrier in which each club is maintained separate fromthe others and inwhich provision is made for various club shaft lengths to-a void contacting of the club heads with each other. v

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a golf club carrier which maybe readily carried in a normal position close to the ground by means of an adjustable handle which is positioned directly over the center of gravity of the carrier so that the load is balanced.

A still further important object of the invention is .to provide an improved golf club carrier having a ground supporting means which enables the insertion or removal of a golf club without picking up or holding onto the carrier while it is at rest and which will not interfere with the walking of the golfer when the carrier is being carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf club carrier which is adjustable for different height golfers, includes means for carrying golf balls and other items, and is provided with a skid for preventing accidental digging up of the turf by the carrier on contact therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In its broadest aspects, the invention contemplates a light-weight golf club carrier comprising connected, laterally spaced, club-receiving, adjustable pockets between which a carrying handle is positioned so as to be just above the center of gravity of the device as a whole, the golfer being thereby able to easily carry it as a suitcase The head and tail plates are each fo ed with a plurality of "generally triangular, aligned, openings ,17 which, on their adjacent faces, are formed with shoulde rs 18 against which the ends of a plurality of golf-club-receiving tubes 19 are adapted to be seated and thus clamped 'therebetween.

The outsideface of the head plate 12, its edges and the curved edges of the openings 17 are rubberized so as to avoidthe scratching or r'narring of the golf clubs.

"In order that the position of the golf club heads in the carrier 10 may be staggered as shown in Figure 1,to eliminate contact of the heads and hence'the need for head covering boots,'each of the club receiving tubes" 19 is'provided with'an' adjustable stop '20 against which'the ends of the club shafts will bear. As' seen iii Fi'gures 3, 4 and 6, the tubes 19 are preferably triangular in cross section with their inner sides vertically disposed, a raised portion 21 being formed on each of the openings 17 in order to keep the club shafts at the bottom of the openings 17.

A slot 23 is formed in the outer edge of the lower end of each of the tubes 19 (Figures 1, 5 and 6) and receives a screw 24 which projects through a counter sunk bearing washer 25 into the thick rearwardly projecting base 26 of the stop 20. If desired, the screw 24 may be provided with a knurled extension for ready manipulation. When the screw is loosened, the stop 20 may be slid along within its tube 19- to a position where the club to be carried has its head out of contact with adjacent club heads whereupon the screw is tightened to fix the adjustment there.

As is well known, the shafts of irons are shorter than the shafts of woods. It is accordingly desirable when positioning the various stops 20, to arrange the irons in the lower tubes with the woods in the upper tubes (Figure 1) as this makes for a more compact arrangement. While the drawings disclose two spaced vertical rows of four shaft receiving tubes with a ninth below the plate connecting tube 15, any desired number of tubes may be used.

The golf club carrier 10 is adapted to be easily car ried in the manner of a suitcase by means of a handle 27 which is adjustably connected to the tube 15 by a pair of spaced clamps 28 and slotted brackets 29. By

3 loosening either or both of the nuts 30, the handle 27 may be adjusted for height and angularity with respect to the brackets 29 while loosening the clamps 28 will permit adjustment along the tube 15 and to balance the carrier about the handle 27 as Well as also adjusting its vertical position.

It will thus be noted that the handle is adjustably positioned just above the center of gravity and the carrier may be readily carried in a balanced position by a golfer of any physique regardless of the particular load of clubs, etc. being carried. The space between the tubes 19 to the rear of the handle and above the connecting tube is provided with a cigarette and match compartment 33 and a zippered compartment 34 for golf balls, tees, clothing, etc. The compartments are maintained in their position by means of straps 35 which encircle the upper tubes 19. V

The bottom inner edge of the tail plate 14 has an arcuate skid plate 36 pivoted thereto which serves as one point of support when the carrier 10 is at rest and when being carried, the skid plate preventsdamaging the golf course by divots as might occur by engagement of the carrier 10 with the ground when the golfer is descending a hill.

The lower rear edge of the head plate 12 is provided with laterally spaced studs to which a pair of supporting legs 37 and 38 are pivoted. During use of the carrier 10, the leg 37 is diagonally disposed (Figure 1) while the leg 38 is vertically disposed, this arrangement insuring a stable support while not interfering with the Walking of the golfer. Both legs are adapted to be folded against the carrier for storage purposes as indicated in Figure 1 and are maintained in either position by a spring pressed ball and socket (not shown).

The head and tail plates 12 and 14 are provided on their upper facing portions with integrally formed loops 40 for the reception of snap catches 43 which are fixed to each end of a shoulder strap 44 which may be used. A shoulder pad or adapter 45 is slidably mounted on the strap 44 for proper positioning and balance of the carrier 10 and comprises a sponge rubber pad 46 adhesively secured to the bottom of a plastic retainer member 47 which is channel shaped to receive the nylon or leather strap 44 and includes end members 51 which retain the strap therein. When not in use, the strap is unsnapped and carried in the zipper pocket 34.

The advantages of the golf club carrier in use are believed to be readily apparent. Once a golfer has selected the clubs, woods and irons which he prefers to use, he may readily arrange them out of contact with each other in the carrier 10 as previously described while it rests on the legs 37 and 38. It will be noted that although shown in vertically disposed position in Figure 3, the carrier is actually inclined to the left so that the legs form, together with the skid 36, a stable support therefor. The handle is now adjusted in height for the golfer and for balance of the carrier and its legs, all of which is only raised a few inches off the ground when being easily carried as one would carry a suitcase.

The clubs are maintained in the lowermost portion of each of the tubes 19 by the raised portions 21 of the apertures 17 which are large enough for easy insertion of the club shafts. Marring of the clubs is thus prevented as well as by the rubber coating on the upper side of the head plate 12.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A carrier for golf clubs comprising a head plate and a tail plate, a tube rigidly connecting said plates at their centers, a plurality of aligned apertures formed in said plates on opposite sides of said connecting tube, golf club receiving tubes clamped between said plates and about aligned pairs of apertures therein, and a handle mounted on said connecting tube just above the center of gravity of the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,408,876 Frey Mar. 7, 1922 7 1,696,062 Thurlow et al Dec. 18, 1928 1,791,188 Bright Feb. 3, 1931 1,951,492 Schneider Mar. 20, 1934 2,000,711. Mobbs May 7, 1935 2,091,298 Agnew Aug. 31, 1937 2,419,175 Spohrer Apr. 15, 1947 2,676,737 Zirbel Apr. 27, 1954 

